sex—or even caring what others thought if he chose to do so.
Felicia took another long sip of iced water. She tended to do that when she thought of Kedah in that way—and she thought of Kedah in that way an awful lot...
Despite her very strict ‘Never mix business with pleasure’ motto, Felicia occasionally indulged in a little flirt with him—or rather, a very intense flirt. And there were odd moments when she felt as if her clothes had just fallen off. He made her feel naked with his eyes, although he was always terribly polite.
Felicia knew she’d have trouble saying no if he so much as crooked a finger in her direction. He hadn’t, though—which was just as well, because he’d be in for a rude shock. There was no way Felicia would turn into one of those simpering Your pleasure is all mine, Kedah women he had a very frequent yen for.
Sweet.
That was the type of women he chose—or rather that was how they appeared until they were dumped. Then it was Felicia who dealt with their angry, tearful outbursts.
She had almost been able to picture Beth, the actress, kicking her neighbour’s blind cat when she’d told her that Kedah would not be taking her calls anymore.
‘Have you thought about a gift?’ Felicia had asked her, while trying to keep a straight face.
Yes, she had found out on her third day of working for Kedah that his aggrieved exes were sent a brochure from which to choose a gift.
No diamonds or pearls from Kedah—jewellery was too personal, of course. But a luxury holiday brochure was theirs to peruse. After all, what better than a week in the South of France or a trip to Mustique to help soothe that wounded heart? The only downside was that Sheikh Kedah would not be there.
He had already moved on to the next.
Beth had chosen to take her broken heart for a little cruise around the Caribbean. Felicia might have told her she’d have stood far more chance of a repeat night with Kedah if she’d told Felicia to pass on to him precisely what he could do with his brochure.
No one ever did.
But, while Kedah seemed at ease with his wretched reputation, there had to be more to why he wanted her nearby than to introduce her to the managers of all his hotels around the globe.
Why did Felicia need to know that the Dubai hotel manager was an anxious sort but a wonderful leader? Why had he taken great pains to have her meet his accounts managers and his team of lawyers?
It just didn’t make sense.
She looked up because, from the rustling and whispers amongst the patrons, it would seem that someone stunning had just arrived—and of course there he was.
She had recovered from the faint-inducing sight of Kedah in a suit, but here in Dubai he wore traditional attire and each day was a delicious surprise to the senses. On this fine day the angels had chosen for him a robe in cool, completely non-virginal white, and such was his beauty and presence that he turned every head as he made his way over.
His keffiyeh was of white-on-white jacquard, with knotted edges, and was seemingly casually tied. He was unshaven, but very neatly so. His lips were thick and sexy, the cupid’s bow at the top so perfect one might be forgiven for thinking it tattooed. But this was all natural. Felicia had inspected that mouth closely enough to be very sure of that.
He looked royal and haughty and utterly beautiful, from his expensive cool head right down to his sexy leather-clad feet. Then his eyes lit on her, and the beautiful mouth relaxed into a warm smile—one that didn’t just light up his features, but his whole being.
Auras were supposed to be indistinguishable, even non-existent, yet Kedah wore his golden glow like a heavy fur coat.
He was a wolf in prince’s clothing. Felicia knew that.
Such delectable clothing, though!
And such a stunning man...
Of course it wasn’t only the women who noted his suave arrival—inevitably the head waiter came dashing over, clearly troubled at the inadequate seating arrangements for such an esteemed guest.
‘You didn’t say that you were dining with Sheikh Kedah,’ he admonished her.
‘I did say I was meeting an important guest,’ Felicia said sweetly.
‘Then please accept our sincere apologies. We have given you the wrong table—it is our mistake. Allow me...’ He was gathering up her phone, her tablet, the whole mini-office that she set up whenever she met with Kedah.
‘Of course.’
Felicia smiled to herself as she was bundled over to a stunning table—one where there was no chance of hearing their neighbours’ conversation. The only sound was the gentle cascade of a fountain, the view of the marina was idyllic, and here the floor was entirely theirs.
‘You played your game again,’ he commented as they sat down opposite the other.
‘I did.’ Felicia nodded, and then met and held his gaze.
His eyes were thickly lashed, and he had a way of looking at her that honestly felt as if she were the only person present on the planet. He gave his absolute full attention in a way that was unlike anybody Felicia had ever known.
‘Why don’t you just say in the first place that you are meeting me?’ he asked, because this happened rather a lot when Felicia booked their meetings.
‘Because I like watching them fluster when you arrive.’
Kedah would like to see Felicia fluster—and yet she was always measured and poised and gave away so little of herself.
He would like to know more.
The thought continually surprised him. Kedah did not get involved with staff, yet over the past few weeks he had found himself wondering more and more about Felicia and what went on in her head.
It was a pretty head—one that was usually framed with shoulder-length hair. But today her hair was worn up. It was too severe on her, Kedah thought. Or was it that she’d lost a little weight? And he could see that she’d put on some make-up in an attempt to hide the smudges under her eyes.
Gorgeous eyes, Kedah thought. They regularly changed shade. Today they were an inviting sea-green, but he would not be diving in.
He did not want to muddy things—he needed her on board and, given that his relationships ran to days rather than weeks, he did not want to risk losing her over something as basic and readily available as sex.
Yet all too often they tipped into flirting. Kedah usually didn’t bother—there was little need for it when you were as good-looking and as powerful as he. Yet he enjoyed their conversations that turned a seductive corner on occasion. Though Felicia had promised him discretion, there were times when he wanted her naked in bed beside him. He wanted to laugh as she told him tales about her former bosses.
Or ‘clients’, as Felicia referred to them.
That irked him.
He had seen her list of references,
